What it's like to live in Warrenton
Warrenton is a small city in Virginia with county unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Warrenton deals with home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold winters.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Warrenton compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Warrenton
Based on Warrenton's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,836
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $56,720 a year
- 52% of Warrenton renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$95,660
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $47,830
- Homes cost 5.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,418/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,418 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $478,300. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $478,300 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
2.8% county unemployment
Unemployment in Fauquier County is 2.8%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Fauquier County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 85% below US
49 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 653/100k · Warrenton Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 17% above US
30 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 30.3 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 26°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 28% above US
46% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 46% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Manassas National Battlefield Park (16 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Warrenton's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,418/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), anyone prioritizing low crime, and college-educated professionals.
Other places near Warrenton
All Virginia guides →Moving to Gainesville →
11 mi away · pop. 18,196
Rent $2,283/mo · Income $174,410
Compare with Warrenton →Moving to Linton Hall →
12 mi away · pop. 41,876
Rent $2,575/mo · Income $178,915
Compare with Warrenton →Moving to Bull Run CDP (Prince William County) →
16 mi away · pop. 16,859
Rent $2,002/mo · Income $89,679
Compare with Warrenton →Not sure Warrenton is the one?
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